Hundreds of flights cancelled as French air traffic controllers walkout

In a sudden turn of events, European travel plans were thrown into disarray today as French air traffic control workers staged a strike, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations across the continent.

The French civil aviation authority, DGAC, announced yesterday that airlines were required to cancel 75% of flights at Paris Orly, 55% at Paris Charles-De-Gaulle, and 65% at Marseille due to the strike.

Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest airlines, took a significant hit, announcing the cancellation of over 300 flights, affecting routes between Ireland, Britain, Spain, and Italy.

“This strike by French air traffic controllers is causing chaos for passengers,” stated Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary. “We should be cancelling flights within France, not affecting flights from other countries.”

Aer Lingus, another major airline, also reported delays and cancellations, urging passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

The strike came despite the SNCTA union’s decision to call off the strike after reaching a deal on working conditions. However, with other unions still in discussions, the strike could not be averted in time to prevent disruptions.

Airlines for Europe (A4E) expressed concern over the last-minute cancellations, emphasizing that significant disruption was still expected across Europe.

Airline officials also raised worries about the potential impact on the Paris Olympics, with over a million travelers expected to pass through Paris during the Games. The risk of strikes causing widespread chaos during the event was highlighted, underlining the need for proactive agreements to prevent such disruptions.